Is too much governmental openness a bad thing?

The Argus Leader has a story this morning featuring the rap sheets of the Sioux Falls City Councilor candidates. Even Councilor Vernon Brown—Mr. Pure As the Freshly Driven Snow—has a “record.”

Never mind Mr. Road Rage Bob Litz and Tokin’ Jabez Brunz and Kenny Anderson, Jr.

• Read: Candidates break laws
  

Excerpt:

Almost every candidate running for Sioux Falls City Council this year has a record with the South Dakota Judicial System.

Only two candidates - Amanda Todd and Ron Sauby, both running in the Northeast District - have clean statewide criminal background records.Some, including Vernon Brown, Theresa Stehly and Dean Karsky, have minor traffic offenses on their records.

Others have more colorful backgrounds.

The Northwest District incumbent, Bob Litz, was charged in 2002 with simple assault in what was billed at the time as a “road rage”incident. The charge later was dismissed, and Litz pleaded guilty to leaving an unattended vehicle and paid a $164 fine…

The comments are largely negative about the story. Many commenters think the Argus went too far, particularly on the traffic infractions like Brown (who is about as polite a fellow as you’ll ever meet) received.

Remember, all this information is public information. All the Argus has done is put it all together in a readable form.

But with the possible exception of Councilor Litz (who strikes me a very nice and personable guy) and the road rage incident, this is all pretty petty ante stuff. Still, it is embarrassing. I’d be embarrassed if it were me. I’m not casting stones at the candidates by saying that. Like most of us, they’re not without sin—or a speeding ticket or two.

None of us, even the best among us, are perfect. And people are capable of change and learning their lessons from the bonehead things we sometimes do. In fact, some of these scrapes actually make some of the candidates seem more “human” or at least more like regular people.

Still, would you want your speeding tickets or lack of insurance publicized? Does this have a chilling effect on people running for office?

To be honest, if it were me, the answer would be yes. On the other hand, if you don’t have a thick skin, don’t get involved in politics. It is not for the meek. Someone somewhere will try and expose every stupid thing you’ve said or done if you run for most offices. That’s the game.

But on the other hand, where do we draw the line on openness in government? Isn’t it better to err on the side of openness?

I come down on the side of openness, but wow, I also feel for the candidates who got “outed” for their minor indiscretions in the pages of the Argus today.

 

Most of the infractions have nothing to do with honesty. That would be a much larger issue for me.

Perhaps some ambitious blogger would like to research the rap sheets of members of the Argus news room? I’m just sayin’.

(Hat tip to South DaCola)

Technorati Tags: Bob Litz, Vernon Brown, Jabez Brunz, Kenny Anderson, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, open government, Daniel Brooks, 2008 election